Dedicated to preserving Nordic culture, the Nordic Museum stands as a testament to Sweden’s rich history. This grand structure before you is more than just a building. It is a time capsule holding centuries of Nordic traditions.
The Nordic Museum, or Nordiska museet in Swedish, wasn’t always as you see it today. Artur Hazelius founded it in the late 19th century. Hazelius also created Skansen, the open-air museum. For a long time, both were part of the same institution. They became independent in 1963.
Initially, in 1873, it was called the Scandinavian Ethnographic Collection. The name changed to the Nordic Museum in 1880. Hazelius’s vision was to preserve the cultural history and ethnography of Sweden. He focused on the period from 1520 to the present day.
Hazelius passionately collected items for the Nordic Museum. He acquired furniture, clothes, and toys from all over Sweden and other Nordic countries. His primary interest was peasant culture. However, his successors expanded the collection to include bourgeois and urban lifestyles. Hazelius gathered entire buildings and farms for Skansen.
Despite initial funding challenges, Hazelius gained widespread support. By 1898, the Society for the promotion of the Nordic Museum had 4,525 members. The Swedish parliament began allocating funds in 1891. They doubled the amount in 1900. Sadly, Hazelius died the following year.
Isak Gustaf Clason designed the current building. Construction lasted 19 years and was completed in 1907. The original intention was for it to be a national monument. It was meant to house the nation’s material inheritance. However, only half of it was completed for the Stockholm Exposition in 1897. The full vision, three times its current size, was never realized.
The Nordic Museum’s architecture draws inspiration from Dutch-influenced Danish Renaissance designs. Think of Frederiksborg Palace. It’s less about specifically Swedish historical models. Inside, a colossal main hall stretches through all stories. It leads up to the roof. A massive sculpture of King Gustav Vasa dominates the space. He is considered the founder-king of Sweden. Brick and granite form the walls. Concrete supports the roof.
The Nordic Museum boasts over 1.5 million objects. Its collections include entire buildings. Julita farm in Södermanland is one example. The museum archive contains approximately 6 million photographs dating back to the 1840s. The research library holds 3,800 shelf meters of literature from the 16th century onward.
As you approach the entrance, notice the two obelisks. A statue of King Charles X stands centrally. One obelisk bears a poignant inscription. It reads, “There may come a day when a glance into the past is impossible to obtain”. Inside the central hall, greet the monumental oak wood statue of King Gustav Vasa. Carl Milles created it in 1925.
Exhibitions spread across four floors. They surround the central hall. They showcase a wide range of folk objects. These objects provide insights into Nordic country life over the centuries. Exhibits highlight cultures like the Samen. Others illustrate typical Nordic traditions and customs.
The Nordic Museum is more than a repository of artifacts. It is a living testament to the spirit and history of the Nordic people. It ensures that future generations can always glance into the past.